TWENTY YEARS IN THE ROCKIES. 89 



ful bird must die. But, with a violent flap of his wings, he 

 broke the deadly embrace, caught the snake, gave it a num- 

 ber of jerks, and threw it down again. The blood was 

 oozing from several places in the rattler's body and this 

 seemed to make the eagle more excited than ever. 



The antagonists now remained some feet apart and 

 seemed to be resting, though the rattler kept up a deep 

 buzzing, perhaps to intimidate the bird. 



The eagle next tried another plan, wheeling around his 

 enemy in a circle, but the serpent was acquainted with this 

 trick and managed always to face him. Thus foiled, the 

 eagle began to whip the rattler with the tips of his wings, 

 his head well thrown back, but the snake dodged the blows. 

 The eagle then made a feint, jumped to one side and struck 

 the snake a fearful blow ; caught it up by the middle and 

 shook it until the snake was about to twine itself around 

 his body, when he again threw it to the ground. Both 

 then showed signs of great fatigue, but neither seemed in- 

 clined to give way. 



The eagle ran round and round his victim, in every con- 

 ceivable way, but still the snake managed to hold him off,, 

 until he threw back his head and made a desperate drive. 

 The snake then struck with all of its force as the wing of 

 the eagle came in contact with its head, and, while trying 

 to again coil around the eagle's body, was caught and car- 

 ried into the air, where it was almost jerked in twain. 

 When it reached the ground its entrails were hanging out, 

 and it writhed and twisted in great pain. The proud bird 

 stood looking on with the victorious air of a pugilist who 

 has won a world-renowned battle. 



For the first time he cast his large eyes upon me,, show- 

 ing neither surprise nor anger at my presence. He seemed 

 to understand that I would not molest him, for he turned to 



